The room suddenly became hot, the air conditioner has stopped working two nights ago. I told Jubril about it and he brought in a man to do the repairs.
After fumbling for close to an hour, the man left with a promise to come back and remove the air conditioner to his shop where he would be able to repair it properly. Already, my body was soaked in sweat and the blanket too.
By my side lay Kabir, my four-year-old son. Though he was fast asleep, I could sense he was feeling uncomfortable as a result of the heat. Tiny beads of sweat decorated his forehead down to the neck while his clothes soaked up the rest of his body. I unbuttoned the shirt and very carefully removed it. He stirred in his sleep and his eye flipped drowsily but soon he went to sleep. Gently, I wiped off the sweat and began to fan him with his shirt.
Outside, a dog began to howl; it was loud and it made quite a noise in the stillness of the night. The howling went on and on making it impossible for me to fall back into sleep. It was so loud and it seemed to be coming directly behind my window.
Long ago, I’d learned it was a sign of bad things to come if a strange dog continually cries outside the gate of one’s house. It was a sign that somebody was going to die or something just as terrible was going to happen. Quickly, I got off of the bed, found my slippers, and padded towards the window.
I swung it open. The coolness of the night air was refreshing. Outside, the howling had stopped but I could sufficiently see the dog from the bright light of the moon. It was a black, skinny dog and right there, it was staring straight at me. The eyes were black and glittering and they sent a shiver down my spine. I motioned with my hands for it to go away but it ‘continued to gaze at me!
As it did, I could feel the hair on my neck beginning to stand. I suddenly felt frightened. There was something evil about the dog. As I hurriedly made to shut the window, I heard a screech coming from the top of the mango tree alongside the window. It was an owl. Its ugly head twisted in a semi-circle and it saw me. For a while, we stared at each other until probably out of fright, it flapped its wings in the air and flew away into the darkness of the night, screening frighteningly as it flew away. Quickly, I shut the window and secured the locks. I’d suddenly become so frightened, my hands trembled. It was not every time one sees an owl. But to see an owl and dog at the same time, both making awful noises outside one’s house was a bad omen. It gave me a strong strange feeling that something terrible was about to happen.
I don’t believe in superstitions but this night, I had a strong conviction that there was something evil out there. Though I didn’t know what it was, I left the windows and my eyes again fell on Kabir as he lay peacefully on the bed. His handsome features squeezed up in a frown, probably he was dreaming. Anytime I see him, he reminded me of the child I never had, the child I long to have but can never have because I am as barren as an old hag.
Consequently, Jubril, my husband decided to marry another wife after many years of unceasing pressure from me and his family.
She gave birth to a baby boy, Kabir; a child I loved so much as if he was mine. I loved him with a passion and I did everything to please him. Many people who did not know believed he was my son because we were always together. His mother, who could not understand the intimate relationship between her son and me felt very uncomfortable.
Many times, I overheard her tell her friends or relations that I’d cunningly taken her son away from her. On hearing such things, I don’t get annoyed. Instead, I would approach her like a good sister should and explain to her how much I’d wanted a child but couldn’t have one. I tried to tell her how much I loved her child, which does not mean I’m trying to take him from her. She’ll pretend to understand but deep down I knew she wasn’t happy. But there was nothing I could do about this, I just couldn’t stop loving her baby. He was like a son to me.
In the next two days, he would be celebrating his fourth birthday. I’d promised to buy him a big, beautiful and colorful football which was something he’d wanted for a long. He told me in his tiny little voice he wanted to be a footballer.
Why do you want to be a footballer?” I remember asking him.
“Because I want to appear on television like Yekini,” He said, he knew the names of all the football stars on television.
“But can ‘you play like Yekini?” I teased.
“Aha … yes now. In school, I used to play and score many goals” He ‘replied.
His handsome features broke into a smile. He looked every bit like his father. I gathered him in my arms and I gave him a peck.
“Okay, I’ll buy you a ball for your birthday”, I told him. –
“A big ball?” He asked, his face eager and questioning.
“Yes, a big beautiful ball” I replied with a smile.
Since that day, he would come into my room, rest on my arms and remind me of my promise to buy him a big ball.
This night, he had come as usual but he didn’t know when he fell asleep.
Later, his mother came to pick him but I’d told her to let him sleep. By tomorrow, we’d visit the shops at the roundabout together and buy his ball.
That night, I returned to bed but couldn’t sleep. My mind was troubled.
The black dog and owl I’d just seen didn’t make things any better. Silently, I recited a Psalm until I drifted back to sleep.
The next day was a Saturday. I did my laundry in preparation for work the coming week. Later, I prepared to take Kabir across the road to the shops by the roundabout and pick up his ball. If I’d known the tragedy that would befall me, I won’t have stepped an inch outside. But like a blind man, I couldn’t see, am I lacked the power to peep into the future and predict what was to happen. The frightful incident last night should have been a warning signal but I chose to ignore it. As a result, I lost everything and plunged headlong into death. It was tragic.
I left the house that day with Kabir tagging closely behind. He was wearing his Jeans shorts with T-shirt and a face cap. He looked excited and I left him to follow at his own pace. He was enjoying himself. His mother had wanted him to stay home because of his lesson teacher who normally came by 3 0’clock but I’d insisted he come along since it would take another hour before his lesson was due.
Reluctantly, his mother had accepted. To disagree was to indirectly tell me that I had no right over her son. Together, we walked down the street until we came to the main road. Across the street, a group of boys playing football disinterestedly, I’d glanced at them. Briefly, I looked back to make sure Kabir was following behind. Suddenly, I saw the blue ball sail through the air toward our direction. It bounced on the ground, rolled across the road, and midway, it stopped. I ignored it and went on my way. But Kabir did not. Before I realized what he was about to do, it was too late, immediately the ball stopped in the middle of the road, and he went for it, not knowing there was an oncoming car speeding fast toward him.
…To Be Continued
